Portable fog type fire extinguisher



Nov. 21, 1950 i., H. sMrrl-l 2,531,356

PORTABLE Foc. TYPE FIRE ExTIwcuIsx-IER Filed March 1v, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 2l, 1950 l.. H. SMITH 2,531,365

PORTABLE FOG TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed March 17, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jal Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED s'rA'ras PATENT orrics PORTABLE FOG TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHEE Lawrence H. Smith. Chicago, lll., assigner to Victor M. Iangsctt, Chicago, lil., as trustee Application March 17, 1945, Serial No. 583,357

i@ Claims. (Cl. 18S- 31) This invention relates to tire extinguishers in general and particularly to portable ilre extinguishers. More specically, the invention refers to a portable ilre extinguisher of the fog type.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher. particularly o! the fog type, wherein there is provided a diaphragm arranged interiorly of the casing and adapted to receive a iluid, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) on one side of the diaphragm for maintaining a constant pressure within the container to torce fluid on the other side of the diaphragm through a nozzle in an extremely line spray or fog.

Another important object of the invention is the provision o! a iire extinguisher having a casing in which there is mounted a retractable piston. there being a diaphragm arranged inside of the casing and having cooperation with the piston whereby pressure will be exerted against a iiuid arranged in the casing whereby the uid will be discharged under pressure in exceedingly iine particles, like fog.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a lire extinguisher oi the fog type wherein there is provided a casing having a Vrectractable-.piston and an expansible diaphragm. the piston being adapted to be arranged in a predetermined position for loading the container with a liquid and returning a gas operated diaphragm to a predetermined position, the diaphragm being adapted to be extended or expanded` by the gas pressure therein so as to create a pressure continuously against the iluid to be sprayed in foglike fashion.

' Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the'prcgress of the iollowing speciiication.

`f'lhe accompanying drawings illustratea se lected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Eig.f.l is a longitudinal sectional view of the fog-type fire extinguisher oi the invention, the lview showing the pistonin engagement with the diaphragm:

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the piston in its partly retracted position;

Figi '3 is afview similar to Figs. i and 2 but showing the piston in its retracted position, the parts being in their normal position ready for operation; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 no3 but showing the liquid for creating the fog dissipated from the container. the diaphragm being fully vex panded.

purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a body I which may be cylindrical or oi. any other desired or convenient shape. A front or operating end 2 is preferably made integral with the body portion I and has formed thereon an integral boss 3 having an axial bore 4. The bore y is threaded and receives the threaded part 5 on a stem or shaft 6 to which there is mounted an operating crank l. The inner end of the shaft t is operatively connected to a piston 3 by means oi. any suitable connection 9 so as to cause translation, without rotation, of the piston during ro- `tatlve movement of the shaft 6. The said means 9 may comprise a conventional ball and socket connection, or it may comprise a connecting part secured to the end of the shaft 6 and revolubly or swiveiingly connected to the piston t.

The body I may be provided with a peripheral iiange I0 to which an end plate II may be secured by means of fastening means I2, such as bolts and nuts. The internal chamber I3,` which is formed by the casing i and end walls 2 and II, has arranged therein a diaphragm I4.

The diaphragm i4 may be made of flexible resiljent material, such as synthetic rubber. or it may be made of any suitable material capable of performing the function intended. The specific diaphragm herein shown is made of rubber or rubber-like material, and includes a peripheral bead I5 which is arranged in an annular groove I8 formed by cooperating annuli in the iiange I0 and the end closure plate I I. The forward end of the diaphragm may include layers of material. including a stiffening plate I'I. The space III between the diaphragm I4 and the end wall ii forms a chamber in which the expansible material, such as carbon dioxide (C02), may be inserted to create a pressure within the space to expand the diaphragm.

A illling spout I9, adapted to be closed by s. suitable plug,- is provided in the end closure wall Il so that the diaphragm chamber i8 may be charged with the material. An inlet opening 26 is-provided in the casing I through which liquid.

such as water, may be poured to fill the chamber I3. A closure plug 2| is provided for normally closing the opening 20. A discharge 22 is provided in the end wall 2, there being a valve 23 operatively connected to the discharge 22. A hose 2l having a nozzle 25 is operatively secured to the valve.

` The piston l is provided with an annular groove 2i which cooperates with passages 21 formed through the piston. Other passagesV 2t are The particular structure herein shown for the 5o formed through the piston :or the purpose oi letting the fluid in the chamber I3 flow from one side of the piston to the other.

In operation, the crank 1 is operated so as t0 bring the piston in contacting relationship with the diaphragm as shown in Fig. 1. A charge of material, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), is put into the chamber I8 whereby a gas pressure is created in the chamber I8 so as to operate against the piston 3. Liquid, such as water, is put through the inlet opening 20 to ll the chamber I3 with water whereupon the plug 2| is screwed in watertight relationship. The crank 1 is then turned to move the piston from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 which shows the piston in its half way position. As the piston moves from left to right, as shown in Figs. 2-3, the water in the chamber, that is, the water between the piston and the end wall 2, will flow through the openings 21 and 28. The continued shifting of the piston from left to right will permit the water to flow on the lef side of the piston until the piston arrives at the position shown in Fig. 3 whereby the entire chamber I3 will be filled with liquid, such as water, and a great pressure will be applied because of the expansible characteristics of the carbon dioxide (CO2). When the valve 23 is opened, the water in the chamber I3 will be forced at high pressure through the hose 24 because of the pressure exerted by the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the chamber I8, causing an expansion of the diaphragm I4. The liquid passingl through the nozzle 25 at high pressure will cause the water to be in finely divided particles equivalent to fog whereby the fog provides the extinguishing element. The water in the chamber I3 will be continuously under pressure because of the continued expansion of the diaphragm I4 whereupon ultimately all the water in the chamber I3 will be forced out through the nozzle 25 when the valve 23 is opened. The liquid in the chamber I3 will continue to flow out through the nozzle until the diaphragm has reached the position shown in Fig. 4 whereupon all the water in the chamber will be dissipated. Even though all the water is dissipated and the diaphragm is fully expanded, there still remains gas in the chamber I8, and this gas is adapted to be utilized for subsequent charges of water. The crank 1 is again operated to move the piston from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereupon the chamber I3 is again filled with water, and the piston is again shifted to the position shown ln Fig. 3 where the device is again in operative position capable of repeating the same function of spraying fog when the valve 23 is opened.

It has been found that fog is a very eflicient means for extinguishing fires, particularly electrical fires, as the particles are so finely divided that no electrical contact will be made through the spray. The fog is so saturated that it creates a blanket over a re and quickly extinguishes 1t.

In cases where the extinguisher embodying the present invention is to be used in extremely cold places, some calcium chloride (CaClz) may be added to the water, although any other soluble salt, such as sodium chloride, may be added to prevent freezing of the liquid in the chamber I3.

The device is compact and simple in construction, is extremely economical in that it ordinarily provides for the use of water as fluid for extinguishing the fire. Moreover, the gas, which is used to expand the diaphragm and thus create a pressure against the water, can be used over and over` again. Also, the cost of carbon dioxide (CO2) is relatively inexpensive. The device can be made in any size required, but it has been found that a twogallon portable extinguisher of the type as shown specifically in this application is adaptable for all useful purposes.

The device is also adaptable for use as a spray for spraying trees, plants and the like. The device, when used as a spray,A may have insecticide material incorporated in the water in the chamber I3. The diaphragm creates a pressure on the fluid in the container I3 and, inasmuch. as the pressure may be of considerable quantity, the insecticide material in the chamber I3 will be forced out of the hose and its cooperating nozzle at great pressure and thereby it will be possible to spray the insecticide at a considerable distance.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriilcing any of the advantages thereof,l and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A self-contained portable flre extinguisher comprising a casing, a diaphragm in said casing forming a compressed gas chamber, said diaphragm adapted to be expanded, said casing including a chamber adapted to contain liquid against which the diaphragm exerts a pressure, a piston arranged in said casing, said piston having a passage therethrough, and means to move said piston and said diaphragm to a predetermined position after expansion of the diaphragm, and a discharge outlet from the liquid containing chamber.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a casing, a diaphragm in said casing and dividing the casing into a pair of chambers, one of said chambers constituting a chamber for compressed gas to create a pressure therein, the other of said cham- 'bers constituting a chamber for liquid under pressure created by the action of the pressure on the diaphragm, a piston in said casing, means for moving the piston against'the diaphragm to compress the gas in the gas containing chamber, means whereby liquid may ow from one side of the piston to the other side thereof, and a discharge outlet from the liquid containing chamber.

3. A nre extinguisher comprising a casing, a flexible diaphragm element dividing said casing into a gas receiving chamber and a liquid receiving chamber, a discharge outlet from said liqrid receiving chamber, the gas in the gas receiving chamber being compressed, thereby to create a pressure on said diaphragm and move the diaphragm to discharge the liquid in said liquid rec-iving chamber, a pistonin the liquid receiving chamber, and means passing through the casing and operatively connected to the piston to translate the piston in the liquid receiving chamber against the diaphragm after discharge of the liquid therefrom.

4. A device for spraying a fluid in mist or foglike fashion comprising a casing, a diaphragm in the casing dividing said casing into a gas receiving chamber and a uid receiving chamber, th: gas in the gas receiving chamber being compressed to create a pressure on the diaphragm, a vave-closed opening communicating with said fluid receiving chamber through which the fluid is forced under pressure of the gas against said diaphragm when said valve-closed opening is open, a piston in the fluid receiving chamber. and means passing through the casing to the piston to translate the piston in the fluid receiving chamber against the diaphragm after discharge of the fluid therefrom.

5. A device for emitting fluid under pressure comprising a casing, a diaphragm in said casing and dividing the casing into a gas receiving chamber anda fluid receiving chamber, the gas in the gas chamber operating to create a pressure on the diaphragm, to create a pressure on the fluid in the fluid containing chamber, a discharge opening from the fluid containing chamber through which the fi'uid flows under pressure by expansion of the diaphragm, a valve for the discharge opening, and means in the casing for returning the diaphragm to its original position after fluid in the fluid containing chamber is discharged therefrom.

6. A self-contained portable atomizer for li'quid, embodying a chamber for receiving gas and a liquid, movable means in the chamber for maintaining the gas and liquid out of commingling relation, means also within the chamber and operable from the outside thereof, to create pressure upon the gas, a discharge outlet from uid, embodying a chamber for receiving gas anda liquid, an expansible diaphragm in the chamber for maintaining the gas and liquid out of commingling relation, means also within the chamber and operable from the outside thereof, to create pressure upon the gas, a discharge outlet from the chamber, means for controlling said outlet, the gas under pressure operating, when the outlet is ppen, to discharge the liquid therethrough, a piston operable to contract the d' phragm, and manually operable means connected with the piston and extending through the wall of the chamber to the outside thereof, for actuating the piston against the diaphragm and for moving it away from the diaphragm to permit the latter to expand. there being passages for the liquid from one side to the other side of the piston.

8. A self-contained portable atomizer for liquid, embodying a chamber for receiving gas and a liquid, an expansible diaphragm in the chamber for maintaining the gas and liquid out of commingling relation, means also within the chamber and operable from the outside thereof, to create pressure upon the gas, a discharge outlet from the chamber, means for controlling said outlet, the gas under pressure operating, when the outlet is open, to discharge the liquid therethrough, the means for creating pressure upon the gas embodying a piston operable from the outside of the chamber, to contract the diaphragm. the gas in said chamber being maintained at all times within the chamber and on one side of the diaphragm.

9. A portable self-contained atomizer for liquids, embodying a casing for holding gas and a liquid, an expansible diaphragm for maintaining them out of commingling relation, a discharge outlet, means for controlling said outlet, and means for compressing the gas. the pressure of the liquid maintaining the gas under pressure when said outlet is closed, and said compressed gas operating to discharge the liquid from the casing when said outlet is open, and a piston movable into engagement with the diaphragm, and subsequently out of contact therewith.

10. A portable self-contained atomizer for liquids, embodying a casing for holding gas and a liquid, an expansible diaphragm for maintaining them out of commingling relation, a discharge outlet, means for controlling said outlet. means for compressing the gas, the pressure of the liquid maintaining the gas under pressure when said outlet is closed, and said compressed gas operating to discharge the liquid from the casing when said outlet is open, an apertured piston movable into contact with the diaphragm to contract it, and subsequently movable out of contact with the diaphragm when the latter is contracted, and means for operating the piston from the outside of the casing.

- LAWRENCE H. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

